Thumb-hook for musical instruments



Nov. 28, 1933. A. LOOMIS THUMB-HOOK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OriginalFiled March 15, 1930 Ma gi UNITED STATES rarest Patented Nov. 28, 1933THUMB-HOOK Application March 15,

FOR MUSICAL INSTRU- MENTS Ind., assignor to O. G. Ind., a corporation of1930, Serial No. 435,990

Renewed April 20, 1933 10 Claims.

This invention relates to reed musical instruments and particularly tosaxophones.

In the playing of a saxophone the weight of the instrument is supportedby the carrier cord, which passes about the players ne k, and the thumbof the players right hand which engages the thumb-hook mounted on thesaxophone body adjacent the lower end thereof. The present prevailingtype of thumb-hook is rigidly attached to the saxophone body, and incertain playing positions of the instrument the players right hand maybe severely cramped thereby, whereby the efficiency and flexibility ofthe players right hand fingers in key operation are materially impaired,the varying sizes and shapes of the human thumb being responsible forthis, in great part.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a saxophonethumb-hook adapted for either rigid or pivotal connection with theinstrument to enable the player to exercise his option in'that respectand set the hook accordly.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are mentioned herein orsuggested from the l detailed description of the device.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates the invention asapplied to a saxophone body;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the thumb-hook unitalone;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the thumb-hook unit;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4 illustrating the pivotalcondition of the hook.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral 1 indicates the bodyof a conventional type of saxophone upon the exterior of which myimproved thumb-hook is mounted adjacent the lower end thereof.Generally, my invention may comprise the elongated base element 2, thecurved hook section 3, the headed pivot pin or screw 4, by which thehook 3 is connected with the base 2, and a detachable stop screw 5, the

latter being threaded into the extremity of the base section 2.

The base 2 may have its under surface 6 concavically formed to conformwith the curvature of the saxophone body, and may be rigidly fastened tothe latter in any suitable manner, as by soldering. The hook 3 isprovided with an integral bearing section '7 which is suitably bored atat substantially right to base 2, to gain a bearing on the cyli dricalbody of the headed screw icwer end of said screw being somewhat reducedat 9 and threaded into the base 2 through the cylindrical boss 10integral therewith, said boss te o' g into a suitable cylindrical socket11 foil 11 hock bea' section '7. The boss socket 11, which is in conniica ion with the screw bore 8 and arranged a. J lly thereof, issubstantially larger in diameter than said screw bore and extendsupwardly beyond the top end of the boss 19 to provide a clearancechamber above said boss, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The headof screw 4 may have a transverse slot 12 formed therein to enableapplication of a suitable tool for screw actuation.

The numeral 13 indicates a washer or shim arranged below the head ofscrew 4 and against the upper end of the hook bearing section 7. Whenscrew 4 is turned up snugly against the washer 13 the hook section 3 isthereby rigidly clamped against the base 2 and thereby renderednon-pivotal. Fig. 4. But when the washer-shim 13 is transposed to theclearance chamber above the boss 10, where it rests loosely, therebyproviding clearance below the head to the screw pin 4 when the latter isturned up snugly or screwed home into the base 2, the hook element 3 isthereby rendered pivotal on the screw pin 4, due to the clearance belowthe head of said screw pin. When the washer-shim 13 has been thustransposed to the clearance chamber above the boss 10 the hook element 7is held against axial movement, relatively to the screw pin 4, by thetongue and groove connection at 14.

The numeral 14 indicates a curved tongue and groove connection betweenthe lower edge of the hook 3 and the base 2 which, in coaction with theboss and socket connection at 10 and 11, respectively, insures themaximum stability of said hook section and the elimination of audiblevibration of the parts. The opposite end of the hook base is providedwith a pair of opposed stop lugs 15 and 16, respectively, which arearranged on opposite sides of the stop screw 5, spaced therefrom,normally, and adapted to engage said stop screw to limit the swing ofthe hook 3 in either direction.

I claim:-

1. In a reed musical instrument, a furcated thumb-hook pivotally carriedupon the instrument and provided with means within the hook furcationfor limiting the pivotal action thereof.

2. In a reed musical instrument, a furcated thumb-hook pivotally mountedupon the instrument, and removable stop means arranged within the hookfurcation for limiting the pivotal action thereof.

3. In a reed musical instrument, a forked thumb-hook pivotally mountedupon the instrument exterior, and removable stop means for limiting thepivotal action thereof, and stop means arranged within said thumb-hookfur-cation.

4. In a reed musical instrument, the combination of a thumb-hook baserigidly mounted upon the instrument exterior, a thumb-hook, acomplementary boss and socket connection between said thumb-hook and theinstrument and screw means engaging said boss for removably securingsaid thumb-hook to the instrument.

5. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base member, a thumb-hook,means for non-rotaably mounting said hook upon said base member, saidmeans including a releasable clamping screw, and means for renderingsaid thumb-hook pivotal on said screw and relatively of said base memberupon release of the clamping function of said screw, said meansincluding a curved complementary tongue and groove connection betweensaid hook and base members to prevent axial movement of said hook uponsaid screw.

6. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base secured to theinstrument exterior, a thumbhook, and means for removably and pivotallyor rigidly securing said thumb-hook to said base, said means including aheaded screw provided with a shoulder at its lower end and atransposable shim.

7. A reed musical instrument provided with a thumb-hook which ispivotally mounted thereon, and a complementary tongue and grooveconnection between said thumb-hook and the instrument.

8. In a reed musical instrument, a thumb-hook base rigidly mounted uponthe instrument exterior, a thumb-hook pivotally mounted thereon, and acomplementary tongue and groove connection between said hook and baseelements.

9. In a reed musical instrument, a base section, a hook sectionpivotally mounted thereon, and stop means for limiting the pivotalaction of said hook, said means comprising a pair of spaced stop lugscarried by said hook and a stationary stop element on said base element.

10. In a reed musical instrument, a thumbhook base member, a thumb-hook,means for non-rotatably mounting said hook upon said base member, saidmeans including a releasable clamping screw, and means for renderingsaid thumb-hook pivotal on said screw and relatively of said baseelement upon release of the clamping function of said screw, said meansincluding a complementary tongue and groove connection between said hookand base elements.

ALLEN LOOMIS.

